Georgia’s Jalen Carter charged with car crash that killed two people
Jalen Carter, a potential top-five pick in the upcoming NFL draft, was booked Wednesday night on felony charges related to a January car accident that killed two people, including a teammate from the University of Georgia. The crash occurred hours after the team’s parade for winning the national championship.
The warrants charged Carter with reckless driving and racing.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department said Carter, who had not been publicly linked to the crash before Wednesday, raced his Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with a Ford Expedition driven by Chandler LeCroy, a recruiting analyst for the team.
According to the police report, both cars were exceeding the speed limit and firing into oncoming lanes prior to the January 15 crash in Athens, Georgia. The expedition was traveling at about 100 mph when it left the road and crashed into a utility pole, killing LeCroy, 24, and Devin Willock, 20, a sophomore on the team. Two other passengers in the car were injured.
Toxicology reports indicated that LeCroy was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
In a statement on his social media account, 21-year-old Carter said news reports contained “inaccurate information” about what happened the night of the crash. “I have no doubt that when all the facts are known I will be fully cleared of any criminal wrongdoing,” he added.
Carter turned himself in at an Athens jail on Wednesday night and was released about 15 minutes later. He must be brought before in April.
Allegations of his involvement were first reported by The Atlanta Journal Constitutionwho said he had made contradictory statements to police about his whereabouts at the time of the crash.
“The charges announced today are deeply concerning,” Georgia Coach Kirby Smart said in a statement, “especially as we continue to struggle to process the devastating loss of two beloved members of our community.”
A defensive tackle, Carter is considered one of the top candidates for the April NFL draft and was in Indianapolis for the league’s scouting group when the warrants were issued. He was scheduled to address the news media there on Wednesday morning, but did not show up.
Scott Fitterer, general manager of the Carolina Panthers, told reporters Wednesday that team leaders had interviewed Carter Monday night as part of their preparation to make the ninth overall pick in the draft. Fitterer said he heard news of the allegations against Carter on Wednesday morning, but had yet to discuss it with his staff.
“I don’t want to jump to conclusions,” Fitterer said. “We will let it all play and make a decision.”
Chris Rim contributed reporting from Indianapolis.